by Amelia Grey
“Do you not know that I have been.”
“I’ve been hoping that all day.”
He touched his glass to hers, and then they sipped from their glasses before he put them back on the table.
“You turned my world upside down, and now it’s up to you to turn it right again.”
“How can I do that?” she asked.
He picked up a black velvet box and took out a three-string pearl necklace. It glowed in the candlelight.
“May I?” he asked.
She nodded, still unable to believe that her dream of being with John was coming true.
He took off the sapphire necklace and fastened the pearls around her neck, letting his warm fingers lightly caress her before he bent down and kissed her nape. Shivers of desire filled her, and she turned into the embrace of his warm arms.
“I’ve always known the color of your skin was made for pearls,” he whispered and pulled her up close to his chest. “Catherine, I’ve always known I’d give pearls to the lady I loved. I applied for a special marriage license today. Tell me you love me and that you’ll marry me as soon as it can be arranged.”
Catherine’s heart swelled so big in her chest she thought it might burst. “Yes, oh, yes! John, I fell in love with you even though I tried very hard not to. Of course I’ll marry you. I’ve been wondering how I could live without you.”
“So do I have your permission to presume on our wedding night?”
His words and his expressions were so seductive the power of her womanly feelings flooded her. She put her arms around his neck and pressed her body close to his.
“Permission granted, my lord,” she whispered as their lips pressed softly together in a long lingering kiss that was meant to relax and satisfy.
Their mouths mated, their tongues played, and their teeth nibbled as they enjoyed the freedom of being totally alone. As his lips moved back and forth across hers, she slid her arms under his coat and surrounded his body so she could draw from his strength.
Catherine had never felt so wonderful in her life. She’d never been so happy. The mystery of her father had been solved and John loved her and wanted to marry her.
Their kiss deepened as his hands gently pulled the pins and flowers from her hair and let them fall on the rug. As the length of her hair fell to her shoulders she felt his hands letting it sift through his fingers.
“Tell me you have no doubts, no regrets.”
“None. I want to be yours, John. Take me and make me yours.”
Her tongue darted farther into his mouth and their kiss escalated. His hands slid down to her breasts. He palmed them, fondled them beneath the silky fabric of her dress. She sighed softly as she enjoyed the pleasure his hands created inside her. Catherine didn’t like the barrier of the clothing. She wanted to feel his hands upon her skin without her gown between them.
She turned her back to him. He moved her hair to one shoulder and kissed her nape as he unfastened the back of her dress. His lips were smooth and moist. Her whole body tingled as her gown slipped from her shoulders and fell to the rug.
Catherine stepped out of her dress and turned in his arms. She reached up and pulled on his neckcloth and untied the bow. His hands came up to help her unwind it and remove his collar. He then shrugged out of his coat, his waistcoat, and finally his shirt.
Catherine ran her hands over the fullness of his broad, naked chest. His skin was warm, smooth, firm.
“I like the way you look and the way you feel,” she whispered.
He smiled at her and her heart melted. “I love the way you look and I love the way you feel.”
He backed her against the bed, and she sat down on it. He took his time and removed her gloves, shoes, and stockings, lovingly touching her inner and outer thighs before removing her shift and drawers.
John shed his boots and trousers while Catherine watched him. In the pale light she looked at his desire for her showing in the full thickness of his manhood.
He laid her back on the bed and looked at her while his hands softly caressed her skin. She wondered if she should feel uncomfortable lying naked before John, but she wasn’t. How could she feel inhibited with the man she loved, the man she was going to marry? She couldn’t. It would be impossible.
John bent his head and kissed her stomach, burying his face in the hollow of her abdomen. His hand planed down her hip and her thigh to find that point between her legs that he sought, but he didn’t linger there.
“Your breasts are so beautiful,” he said
Catherine felt her nipples harden and pucker at his words.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He pulled the pearls down on her chest so that they lay in the valley of her breasts. He looked down at her and whispered, “I love you, Catherine.”
Her chest felt heavy with admiration. “I love you, John.”
He bent down and covered one rosy tip with his mouth and sucked while his hands slowly sculpted her breasts. The muscles in her abdomen contracted and quivered convulsively beneath the flaming heat of his touch. Desire hot and wild shot through Catherine, and she arched her chest.
He straddled her but held his weight off her by supporting himself with his knees. Her arms moved around his back to cup him to her.
“I need you so desperately, Catherine,” he whispered into the warmth of her neck. “I thought I had lost you when I realized how stupid I’d been to accept Westerland’s challenge.”
“Don’t think about that anymore. You have made me the happiest lady in London. Now make me yours.”
He covered her lips with his, his chest against her breasts. His shaft lay snugly against her womanhood.
John slipped his hand between them and found the sweetness of her desire and slowly massaged it. He moved the tips of his fingers tantalizingly slowly against her. Within seconds she felt her hips lift and move with the motion of his hand. She couldn’t keep her hips still when he touched her that way.
Waves of pleasure flooded through her as she felt strength in his hands, hunger in his kisses. His manhood lay nestled against her thigh and she felt his throbbing desire for her, and that touched her heart with more love for him.
“That feels so wonderful. Just like before.”
“Enjoy it, Catherine, enjoy it,” he whispered and she did until she knew she was going to explode. Suddenly she felt a hard pushing pressure she didn’t understand. For a moment she was stunned and stopped moving, but his fingers never stopped.
“Move with me, Catherine, move with me.”
The pleasure took over once again. Catherine forgot the pain and accepted the full thickness of his body inside her and realized she was once again moving with him. She heard his satisfying moans of bliss as he pumped and moved inside her.
She clutched his shoulders and lifted her hips to meet his and cried out her total release as John pushed deeper into her, burying his face in the crook of her neck and shuddering as he lowered his weight upon her.
His breathing was hard and raspy as she gloried in the heavy feel of his body on hers.
Catherine hugged John to her and whispered, “I love you, John, I love you.”
He rose on his elbows with a smile. “I believe you, my love.”
“You haven’t changed your mind have you? About marrying me?”
He gave her a queer look. “How can you ask that? All of London saw me ride off with you in my carriage. I couldn’t get out of marrying you even if I wanted to.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “And I don’t. Have no fear. You are mine forever.”
She moistened her lips and said, “I just wanted to be sure I wasn’t dreaming.”
He slipped his arms underneath her back and pulled her up close to him. “You are not dreaming. I kidnapped you and seduced you. No one can take you from me including the formidable Mrs. Goosetree. Later we’re going to get dressed and I’m going to take you back to her house, and in three days we will be married.”
“I believe Victoria wanted me
to marry you, but I don’t think a fast wedding is what she had in mind.”
“Do you think she will be furious?”
“Very much so.” Catherine reached up and kissed him on the lips. “But I have a feeling that in time she will forgive you.”
John chuckled. “You are mine, Catherine, and I will love you all the days of my life.”
Catherine smiled contentedly. “And I will love you forever.”
John rolled her over, placing her on top of him, and then he reached up and pulled her down to him.
Catherine thrilled to his touch.
Twenty-two
“Never look a gift horse in the mouth” might be the Marquis of Westerland’s new motto, for he is now the proud owner of what was once the Earl of Chatwin’s most prized possession, the General. But one could assume Lord Chatwin doesn’t notice, for all his time is now spent with his blushing bride. It was revealed today that the last of the Terrible Threesome earls has left London with no word when he will return. If anyone knows more about the hasty departure of Lord Dugdale, please tell and all will be printed here.
Lord Truefitt
Society’s Daily Column
Contents
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-two
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
A HINT OF SEDUCTION
BERKLEY SENSATION / published by arrangement with the author
BERKLEY SENSATION edition / September 2004
BERKLEY SENSATION e-edition / January 2005
Copyright © 2004 by Gloria Dale Skinner.
Cover art by Wendi Schneider.
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